AGY-2990 | State Dockyard Newcastle

Full description

The State Dockyard, Newcastle was opened in 1942 and was brought under the State jurisdiction by the NSW Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking Act, 1943 which arranged for the appointment of a Director and made financial arrangements for the undertaking. (1)

The Dockyard was established on the site of the former Government Dockyard, Newcastle which had closed at the end of 1933. The new enterprise was officially known as The New South Wales Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking, although it was popularly known as the State Dockyard, Newcastle.

The functions of the Undertaking were to perform (a) all types of engineering including general engineering and marine engineering; (b) shipbuilding, repairing and docking and any similar function which the Minister may approve; (c) any other work or activity incidental to its major functions. (2)

The Chief Executive of the Undertaking was the Director who was appointed by the Governor (3) The original capital of the undertaking was £36,653/1/10 (4) The principal dockyard facility was located at Carrington in Newcastle Harbour, on approximately 11 hectares of land in addition to the ship repairs site on three hectares of the Crown land. (5)

The specialised skills of marine engineering of the Dockyard were turned to the war efforts and by 1945 more than 20 naval vessels had been constructed and a further 600 had been docked and repaired. (6)

The New South Wales Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking (Amendment) Act, 1968 (Act No. 7, 1968) created a State Dockyard Board of New South Wales consisting of seven persons nominated by the Minister. The members of the Board where chosen because the Minister believed that they would serve the best interests of the Undertaking and had knowledge and experience of the Undertaking or similar undertakings, or who had expertise in finance, legal matters, marketing or industrial relations. Up to three of the Directors could be past or present employees of the Dockyard. Two of the Directors were appointed Chairman or Vice Chairman. (7)

The serving Director (Harry Douglas Harding) was to be a member of the first Board. (8) During the 1970s, a downward trend in shipbuilding continued and the construction of large ships ceased. The Dockyard was required to make structural adjustments including diversifying to small vessel construction and taking in general engineering work. (9)

In November 1982 a new General Manager was appointed and restructure and consolidation of the agency commenced. A strategic plan was implemented with the aim of developing profitable operations, and improved financial systems were introduced. Major changes were proposed in the Engineering Division with establishment of three departments each with its own production and sales management. The Marine Division was similarly subdivided into two departments. (10)

The reorganisation was followed by a reduction of the workforce, but the State Dockyard was unable to return to profitable operations. The losses increased to $37M and the Dockyard was closed on 6 March 1987 when all of remaining Dockyard workers were retrenched. (11)

NSW Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking (Repeal) Act, 1987 (Act No 24, 1987) closed the undertaking and abolished its Board which was wound up following the proclamation of the Act. (12)

Endnotes
1. Audit of State dockyard Newcastle, Public Works Department - Services Division, Unregistered files and papers and The Statutes of NSW, Act no. 19.
2. New South Wales Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking Act, 1943. s. 4.
3. Ibid., s. 5.
4. Ibid., s. 7.
5. Public Works Department SD 1007, Annual Reports of State Dockyard, Report for 1997, WS 18/993.
6. Audit of State dockyard Newcastle, Public Works Department - Services Division, Unregistered files and papers, WS 18/1088.
7. New South Wales Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking Amendment. Act, 1968 s. 2 c.
8. Ibid., s. 33.
9. Ibid.
10. Public Works Department SD 1030, State Dockyard-Registration of administration, WS 18/996.
11. Public Works Department SD 1007, Annual Reports of State Dockyard, Report for 1987, WS 18/993.
12. NSW Government Directory, 1987 p. 296.
13. NSW Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking (Repeal) Act, 1987 Schedule 1.